Atlantic Beach pollinator pathway garden

Our clients had a beautiful home in AB but suffered a house fire that forced them to completely rebuild on their land. Once that was completed, their large backyard was completely empty besides a new pool and a playhouse that survived the fire! Our clients wanted a design that would make every foot of this space functional and aesthetically beautiful. They wanted to grow their own food, attract pollinators and give their children a wondrous space to explore.

We used the same modern, coastal vibe of their house to produce different outdoor rooms constructed of bluestone and crushed limestone to partition off the expansive space. These rooms were connected by pathways that create a geometric network of beds containing beautiful perennial edibles like blueberries, mulberry, arborquina olives and pineapple guava and natives like oakleaf hydrangeas, Firebush and Chickasaw plum and unique specimens like Japanese maples, Camellia japonica and graceful bamboo.

We removed (rather flame torched) all the existing sod and replaced it with productive perennial plants. This approach always excites me because it creates a space that is functional and personal. There is very little “lost space” in this backyard with nearly every inch filled with purpose and productivity. Organizing this approach by creating outdoor rooms greatly increases our client’s functional living space.

Maintenance in this landscape is minimal as mulch cover is maintained and weeds are dealt with before they get out of hand. Our plant pallet requires only minimal pruning and our standard soil amending routine means less need for fertilizer and other inputs.